How critical or important is it to keep your CFI current during the span of your career? Tired of dealing with renewals. 

I did not train in a Bell 47. 

I have done the free renewal every two years with American Flyers  for over 25 years. I agree is is kind of a pain but it keeps me sharp on changes in the industry that I may not have been aware of otherwise. Flying part 135 the CFII is not really necessary as it's not needed to be a company instructor. However It was mentioned at my last interview and I believe it helped me get the job. I see it as insurance should my current job go away I can still teach while waiting for somthing else to come along. I also may use it in retirement to do some teaching at the local airport. YMMV.

https://americanflyers.com/training/firc-for-life/

if he loses his job and thinks it helped him get one. lol

bro.

lol.

bro.

no, you do not learn anything new taking some bs refresher course

it will help you get your first job. that's it

no, you will not go teach in a r22 between jobs

no, you will not retire from this business and go back to an r22

yes, you are kidding yourself if you think you are keeping it for anything other than your ego

I learn among other things new regs etc from the renewal process. I use mine to teach and do BFR's with  private helicopter owners for good money. No ego, just making the most of my ratings, and it's easy money. This has also allowed me to use these friends helicopters for my personal use from time to time. A win win.

I never renewed mine. most people do renew yet never use them again.

I have been renewing mine with American Flyers for as long as I can remember. Super easy peasy and it's only every other year so who cares?

But, it isn't going to matter here soon. The FAA has a NPRM out right now for doing away with the expiration and just making it a currency thing like the privileges of the certificates.

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/05/23/2023-10182/removal-of-expiration-date-on-a-flight-instructor-certificate-additional-qualification-requirements

Figured I paid paid enough for it so may as well keep it. Duties and responsibilities makes it very easy to renew despite not really needing it 🤷‍♂️

The way I read it you can still renew with a FIRC if you are not actively training students, but benefit from not having to renew if you are an actice instructor. Correct me if i'm wrong.

Currently as it stand, if you don't renew your CFI (FIRC, Pass Rate, etc...) after 2 years you lose it completely. You would then need to do a whole new CFI and CFII checkride to get it back. If this NPRM passes, there will not be an expiration on your CFI anymore, you will never lose it completely you will just fall out of currency. Which then would require the FIRC or similar to reinstate your currency. You would not have to do a checkride to reinstate your CFI.

Currently, active CFI or not you have to renew every 2 years. If this passes then you can be inactive for however long you want without having to renew or losing your cert. If you want to teach again, then you have to regain "currency" but doing a FIRC etc...

If you have to ask it probably isn't too important to you. Most folks renue not because they plan on instructing rather because they want to help insure they stay up to speed in their profession.